How To Manage The Rolling Stones: ‘If you start taking it for granted, that's Doomsday'

By David Roberts28 August, 2018

MBW’s World’s Greatest Managers series profiles the best artist managers in the global business. This time, we speak in-depth to Joyce Smyth, the manager of The Rolling Stones for the past eight years – and a team member for a lot longer than that. The World’s Greatest Managers is supported by Centtrip Music, the currency exchange specialist which helps artists, managers and music businesses obtain an optimum currency exchange deal.

Sometimes it’s good to find an angle.

Sometimes it’s good to dive into the subject unexplored, to ask the question unexpected.

Other times, very rare times, the only thing to do is start with: So, what’s it like managing The Rolling Stones?

Like when you’re interviewing Joyce Smyth, the manager of The Rolling Stones, for instance.

Thankfully, she is polite enough, to ignore the neon ‘REALLY?’ sign flashing in her mind, and give a proper answer.

“It is”, she says, “like being the conductor of a rather wonderful orchestra. And that doesn’t just include them [the band], it includes everyone.

“We have the best in class in all departments. Be it the record company, the producers, the designers. It’s fabulous to be the conductor, to be interfacing with all these different people, this great team; it’s terrific – and such a privilege.”

In recent years, it’s been about managing a very busy band, and a band enjoying huge success with a new record as well as touring one of the greatest catalogs in rock’n’roll.

Blue & Lonesome, released in December 2016, went to No. 1 in the UK and No. 4 in the US, whilst the 17/18 No Filter Tour saw the Stones play 28 shows, grossing a total of $237.8 million.

The combined age of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood, in case you were wondering, is 297.

For more crass questions along the lines of our opener, and for a horribly missed opportunity to make a gag about Their Satanic Majesties’ Holiday Request Forms (you’ll know it when you see it), read on.

You’ll find out how a girl who was turned on to music by a nun running up a hill eventually found herself in control of a band who had sympathy for the devil, redefined debauchery, and ended up as pillars, if not of British society, then certainly of British identity…

Great interview. She sounds like a very good manager who is very involved. Love reading things about the chemistry between mick and keith and the last time not on the setlist. She is having the best clients ever.

“Well, here’s a true story: on the way back from Warsaw, from the last gig on No Filter, as we were on the plane, one of the principals, who shall remain nameless, said, Joyce, could I just ask, is it okay to have August off? I think that says it all.”

Quote"You must be incredibly tired of people asking you how the relationship is between Mick and Keith. So, with that in mind, How’s the relationship between Mick and Keith?

I really don’t get asked it that often! What I’ll say is, if you look at what the fans are saying, the fans that have been to see them on the last tour, it’s generally this: We watch them on stage, and the chemistry has never been better. That echoes my current experience and I honestly think that’s the case.

It’s like being brothers or being married, nothing’s perfect, nothing’s made in heaven. And you’ve got to have some tension to make it as special as it is.

But do they get on, do they work amazingly together – and do they love each other? Absolutely."

"What I can honestly say now is that everybody plays a part. Of course [Mick’s] very interested in the business and he may be a little more interested than some of the other band members, whilst they may want to concentrate on other things.

But in 21st century Stones Land, it’s totally collaborative; they each play a huge part. It’s band meetings, everything’s aired, everything’s discussed and everybody is involved."

QuoteStoneageIn a way this is telling about RS today. More business than rock and roll. Corporate rock and roll... But RS doesn't differ from any other band to be fair. It's always the money...[www.youtube.com]

QuoteStoneageIn a way this is telling about RS today. More business than rock and roll. Corporate rock and roll... But RS doesn't differ from any other band to be fair. It's always the money...[www.youtube.com]

Andrew didn't do it for charity, either, did he?

He did it like in the old days. Artists shouldn't be trusted with money...

QuoteStoneageIn a way this is telling about RS today. More business than rock and roll. Corporate rock and roll... But RS doesn't differ from any other band to be fair. It's always the money...[www.youtube.com]

Andrew didn't do it for charity, either, did he?

He certainly did not!He was pretty complicit with Allen Klein re the 'loss' of copyrights and masters.In fact, I think even now he is probably still receiving a fair income each year from publishing royalties.Interesting interview by the way. She doesn't do many.Rupert and Joyce: good people.

Quote35love“Well, here’s a true story: on the way back from Warsaw, from the last gig on No Filter, as we were on the plane, one of the principals, who shall remain nameless, said, Joyce, could I just ask, is it okay to have August off? I think that says it all.”